How to Identify and Prevent Holiday Scams in Texas

AARP in Houston wants to ensure that scammers don’t put a damper on the holidays—a period when fraud ramps up with too-good-to-be-true deals on gifts and when bogus charities use social media and emails to solicit money.

The association is fighting back against such swindles by teaming up with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office to offer prevention advice on the Prepare to Care podcast, which will be posted online on Monday, Dec. 16.

Among the tips you’ll learn to protect yourself from con artists: how to spot suspicious emails and phone calls, how to recognize scammers posing as Facebook friends and which personal documents you should shred.

The podcast will be available to download at aarp.org/houston, on iTunes and at SoundCloud.com.

Listeners will also find out how to sign up for the AARP Fraud Watch Network and hear about upcoming shredding events around the state.

Go to aarp.org/houston or email houston@aarp.org for more tips and other information.

Also, visit aarp.org/fraud to read more helpful advice, sign
up for free Watchdog Alerts, check the scam-tracking map for the latest cons in your area or report a case of fraud. Or call the Fraud Watch Network helpline toll-free at 877-908-3360.

—George Bridges